Page:Tales from the Fjeld.djvu/51

Rh "What ails you, dame Partlet, that you sit there sobbing and sighing?" said the Handquern.

"Why not," said dame Partlet, "when goodman Chanticleer has fallen into the cask and drowned himself, and lies dead? That's why I sigh and sob."

"Well, if I can do naught else, I will grind and groan," said the Handquern; and so it fell to grinding as fast as it could.

When the Chair heard that, it said—



"What ails you, Handquern, that you grind and groan so fast and oft?"

"Why not, when goodman Chanticleer has fallen into the cask and drowned himself; and dame Partlet sits in the ingle and sighs and sobs? That's why I grind and groan," said the Handquern.

"If I can do naught else I will crack," said the Chair; and with that he fell to creaking and cracking.

When the Door heard that, it said—

"What's the matter? Why do you creak and crack so, Mr. Chair?"

"Why not?" said the Chair; "goodman Chanticleer